National standards for residential services for children and adults with disabilities have been published by the health safety body HIQA.

HIQA will begin registering and inspecting residential services for children and adults with disabilities against these standards and regulations later this year.

From then, all residential services will be required to provide HIQA with evidence of compliance with the national standards and the regulations in order to remain registered.

The standards outline to providers what they must do to ensure safe and effective care is provided to people living in, or using, residential and residential respite services.

HIQA said these standards will be used as a framework to deliver continuous improvements in these services.

According to Phelim Quinn, Director of Regulation with HIQA, from now on, these standards will provide those who use services and their families/representatives with a guide to what they should expect from residential services.

The standards apply to services provided to children and adults with a disability, whether the service is operated by public, private or voluntary bodies.

The new rules state that children and adults who live in residential services should enjoy a good quality of life and live in a place that feels like their home.

The standards are grouped under eight key themes and cover a number of areas including respecting service users' autonomy privacy and dignity and promoting their rights.

They are also aimed at ensuring the facilitation of choice and safeguarding and protecting service users from abuse.

The full list of standards can be viewed at www.hiqa.ie